Germany 1-0 England as it happened: Lukas Podolski bids farewell by firing Die Mannschaft to victory

Full-time: Germany 1-0 England

Lukas Podolski ensured his international career ended on a stunning high by scoring a sublime goal for Germany against old foes England.

The Three Lions were predominantly the better team and should've taken the lead through Jamie Vardy, Dele Alli and Adam Lallana, but they were made to pay for their profligacy in the second half.

Germany improved in the second period and a final moment of magic from Podolski in a white shirt gave his country the bragging rights over the Three Lions. It was the former Arsenal forward's 49th goal for Die Mannschaft, and it's arguably the best he has ever scored.

That brings our coverage of tonight's proceedings to an end. Have a very good evening.

Three minutes of stoppage time to play. Can's backheel finds Sane but his effort is blocked by Stones.

Another well worked passage of play by the Germans hands Schurrle an opportunity but his effort is blocked by Stones.

Kroos whips in the corner, Hummels sends it wide. Two minutes to go.

Lukas Podolski leaves the pitch to a standing ovation and with that brings to an end his international career. What a way to sign off. He is replaced by Hoffenheim's Sebastian Rudy.

The game is now experiencing a bit of a lull. A well worked move by Germany allows Sane to close in on goal but the young Manchester City starlet is adjudged offside.

Southgate rolls the dice as Ward-Prowse, Stones and Shaw replace Livermore, Bertrand and Smalling.

Not a bad substitute to bring off the bench.

Thomas Muller replaces debutant Timo Werner and will spearhead his side's attack in the closing stages.

Rashford turns his man and darts into the area but his cross is too close to Ter Stegen.

Germany respond immediately as Keane misjudges the flight of the ball but Sane's rasping effort is saved quite exquisitely by Hart.

They're not wrong.

Changes for England as Lingard and Rashford replace Vardy and Alli. Southgate looking for fresh impetus up top, it seems.

It's out of nowhere, but it had to be Der Hammer.

Kroos finds Schurrle, who lays the ball into the path of Podolski. The departing German has blazed a few efforts over the bar tonight, but he made no mistake there.

An incredible hit from Podolski, and a fitting way to bow out.

GOAL! Germany 1-0 England (Podolski)

Podolski has been enjoying his farewell appearance, despite Germany's troubles.

25 minutes to go but still no breakthrough for England. There is a break in play, though, as Schurrle lies on the floor after feeling the effects from a Gary Cahill challenge.

Nathan Redmond has replaced Adam Lallana for England, while Emre Can is on in place of Julian Weigl.

Alli sprays a pass out wide to Walker, who in turn finds Lallana. The Liverpool man executes a lovely feint to adjust his body but his effort is blocked for another England corner.

England force a succession of corners as Alli goes close but the German net is yet to be rippled.

Schurrle's first involvement is a bright one, he cuts inside on his left foot and curls an effort that whistles wide of Hart's post.

First Germany substitution sees Andre Schurrle come on in place of Julian Brandt.

Dier latches onto his own pass and stings the gloves of Ter Stegen. 10 minutes gone in the second half, which has more of an even feel about it.

Livermore sends a ball into the channel for Vardy to chase. The Foxes forward beats Hummels for pace and waits for the cavalry to arrive. It comes in the form of Alli, but he couldn't quite skew his effort past Ter Stegen.

Germany respond instantly through Podolski but his two attempts do not trouble Hart, though he does force a German corner.

Brandt almost gives Germany the lead but his left-footed swipe goes just wide. The opportunity came from a corner which Hart failed to properly deal with. Better from the Germans.

Timo Werner gets the second half under way. Will England ramp up the pressure, or will Germany finally respond?

Naughty, that.

A good question. The Tottenham prodigy has been superb in Dortmund.

Half-time: Germany 0-0 England

England have been by the far the better side and should really be in front, but Vardy, Lallana and Alli have failed to convert the chances that have come their way.

Germany have been passive, turgid and wasteful in possession. They have failed to create any chances of note and have found the Three Lions' system very hard to stifle.

Southgate will be pleased, but Loew will demand a reaction. Not good enough from the world champions.

Ter Stegen makes a huge save from Alli, who really should've scored. Bertrand robs Kimmich and finds Vardy, who slips a ball through the legs of Hummels and into the path of Alli.

The precocious talent had time and space, but he couldn't apply the finish. Should've done better.

Dier takes responsibility over the free-kick but can't keep his effort down. Germany immediately give away possession from the goal-kick, they have been very disappointing so far this evening.

Walker shows electrifying pace to intercept a German pass and dart into enemy territory.

The momentum of the attack stalls but Alli, who has had the beating of Rudiger on a couple of occasions, manages to draw a free-kick in a dangerous area from the Roma star.

Germany look to sustain a bit of pressure through Brandt, who has looked dagnerous in fits and starts.

The ball is eventually worked to Podoslki, who blazes his effort over the bar.

Bertrand and Kimmich getting involved in a bit of rough and tumble.

Lallana hits the post!

The Liverpool playmakers makes a lung-busting run from deep and carries the ball excellently. He beats Ter Stegen but is denied by the woodwork. Excellent work from Lallana, who has just been bundled over by Kimmich.

Borussia Dortmund's Julian Weigl is limping gingerly at the moment after clashing with Dier, who caught him on the follow-through.

Weigl, playing in his home stadium, is now receiving lengthy treatment.

England carrying the fight to Germany and look at ease both on and off the ball. The Three Lions seem comfortable in this new system, which offers plenty of cover in defence and abundance of options when on the attack.

Dier manages to get his head on a corner but his effort is grasped easily by Ter Stegen.

Podolski lets fly with that hammer of a let foot but his effort is charged down by debutant Keane. First time Germany have really created any sort of opening, and it was thwarted instantly.

Vardy and Alli almost link up spectacularly but the latter does not have the pace to latch on to the former's through ball.

Germany struggling to get out of their own half due to England's high press. England eventually retrieve possession with Alli at the heart of things, but Livermore stunts England's momentum by giving away a needless foul.

Claims for a penalty as Vardy tumbles under the challenge of ter Stegen. Superb work from Alli put Vardy through, though replays suggest he was looking for a spot-kick. Would've been harsh.

Keane fires over from a corner as England ramp up the pressure on the Germans, who are yet to get going.

Lallana and Walker look to create an opening but the former overcooks his pass. England have started very brightly indeed.

England delay proceedings further by deciding to do one of those pointless team huddles.

Adam Lallana gets us under way, finally.

Kick-off has been delayed as Podolski delivers his farewell speech.

The national anthems are now being blared out around all four corners of the Westfalenstadion.

A lovely montage on the big screens showcasing Podolski's exploits for Germany.

Quite the international career he's had. He is now being lauded in front of the adoring German fans, one last time.

The teams are walking out on to the pitch. Kick-off is just moments away.

Gareth Southgate has given his thoughts regarding the terrorist incident in Westminster.

"Our first thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives and been injured.

"It puts football into perspective. We're conscious that part our of identity as a nation is that we carry on in moments like this, and it's important we represent our country in the right way tonight."

Signal Iduna Park. Not a bad place to play your football, is it.

This man has been back in the goals recently. Vardy scored a wondrous backheel against Germany last year, but can he repeat the feat and start a party for the England contingent in Dortmund?

We will find out shortly.

England captain Wayne Rooney is not in Southgate's squad tonight due to concerns over his fitness.

The United captain's inclusion in previous squads has been criticised by some quarters, and former Three Lions left-back Graeme Le Saux thinks there should no longer be a 'full-time captain' of the national team.

Speaking exclusively to IB Times UK, Le Saux said: "I've been saying for a long time now that I would go completely the other way and not even have a full-time England captain until you qualify for a tournament, because I think you're making a rod for your own back.

"I would rather pick a team captain every get-together and if it's the same person every time, fair enough. But it gives you the flexibility of not feeling necessarily under pressure to pick the same person because you've named them formally as your England captain.

Read more from Le Saux here.

The teams are out on the pitch, going through their pre-match preparations. Kick-off is just over half an hour away.

England may have impressive away form, but Germany are just as strong as their opponents on home soil. Die Mannschaft seem to enjoy playing in Dortmund, but England have won their last three matches against their old foes on German soil.

A unique way of revealing the team. The kit looks lovely, shame the lineup does not.

Tonight's match will be Lukas Podolski's last in the white of Germany. The former Arsenal attacker, who is set to ply his trade in the Japanese league, will forever remain in the hearts of his compatriots.

"130 games, 48 goals, one legend. Thanks Lukas."

Question: Does Germany vs England warrant a half-and-half scarf? More to the point, does any match warrant one of these knitted nightmares?

Answer: No.

A statistic that may surprise a few. Not too shabby from the Three Lions, though a number of those matches have come against the likes of San Marino.

An interesting line-up from Gareth Southgate, but one desperately lacking real quality. Jake Livermore and Eric Dier are the men in the middle for England; do they have the requisite ability between to stifle the incredible, controlling talents of Toni Kroos and Julian Weigl? I suspect not.

Germany's team is simply brimming with quality. In Timo Werner. Jogi Loew finally has a specialist centre-forward to spearhead his attack. The 21-year-old leads an attacking line along with Julian Brandt and Leroy Sane, two young starlets with direct attitudes and boundless ability. A mouthwatering trio, indeed.

TEAM NEWS

England: Hart, Smalling, Keane, Cahill, Walker, Livermore, Dier, Bertrand, Lallana, Alli, Vardy.

TEAM NEWS

Germany: ter Stegen, Hector, Hummels, Kroos, Podolski , Weigl, Rüdiger, Kimmich, Sané, Brandt, Werner.

We start on a sombre note, unfortunately.

Four people, including a police officer, have died in a terrorist incident near the Houses of Parliament today. At least 20 people suffered injuries as pedestrians were struck by a car on Westminster bridge.

FA Chairman Greg Clarke has spoken about the tragic incident and confirmed that England will 'recognise the bravery' of those involved in their World Cup qualifier against Lithuania on Sunday.

"Our thoughts are with all of those who have been affected by this terrible incident," Clarke said.

"We will be recognising the bravery of the security services and all those involved at the England v Lithuania match on Sunday."

Good evening and welcome to IB Times UK's live coverage of Germany vs England.

The two old foes will do battle at the Signal Iduna Park in a game that promises to be Gareth Southgate's toughest test as Three Lions boss. Despite the magnitude of the clash, the former Middlesbrough manager has seen fit to experiment and has opted to use a 3-4-3 system in Dortmund.

Michael Keane is set to make his England debut - in a formation that he is rather unfamiliar with - while West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jake Livermore will make his first appearance for his country since 2012. Halcyon days, indeed.

Stick with us for the full team news, instant score updates and the latest reaction to the goings on in Germany. It *could* be entertaining.